Effect of a lipoidic excipient on the absorption profile of compound UK 81252 in dogs after oral administration

Purpose: Effect of caprylocaproyl macrogolglycerides (Labrasol), as a lipoidic excipient/vehicle in an oral capsule formulation, on pharmacokinetic disposition of a BCS Class 3 compound, UK-81252, was investigated in vivo in a canine model.

Methods: The control and lipoidic formulations were administrated to six Beagle dogs in a crossover, single dose design with a 2-week washout period in between treatments. The plasma concentration-time profile for the lipoidic formulation was compared to that of the control formulation (lactose-based oral capsule).

Results: Although the lipoidic formulation resulted in a markedly increased oral bioavailability (based on mean pharmacokinetic parameters, AUC(0-48 hr) and C(max) ), a double-peaking phenomenon was observed with this formulation. The most likely cause of this double-peak effect was the gastric emptying retardation attribute of the lipoidic vehicle/excipient. The initial peak (Tmax1) was due to the absorption enhancing properties of the lipoidic formulation and the second peak (Tmax2) was most likely the result of a shutdown in gastric emptying for a period of up to 2 hours (this value varied between dogs) after which the remaining Compound UK 81252 emptied from the stomach to generate the second peak.

Conclusions: Caprylocaproyl macrogolglycerides enhanced the absorption of Compound UK 81252. After oral administration, the liquid-filled formulation consistently produced a double-peak phenomenon in the plasma profile. Labrasol was determined to be the most likely culprit for this double peaking phenomenon.